Employers

Strategies

Major in sport management or sport administration. Earn a master's degree for increased opportunities. Develop outstanding communication skills, written and oral. Take courses in marketing, public relations, and advertising. Pursue a degree in law to aid in negotiating contracts. Obtain accounting or business skills and experience. Gain experience with public speaking and sales. Volunteer to do publicity for campus organizations or local nonprofit groups. Volunteer to coordinate athletic programs and events such as marathons, golf tournaments, or special olympics for campus organizations or local non-profit groups. Write articles or columns for campus or local newspapers. Join sport-oriented associations and organizations. Obtain an internship or part-time job with a team or other athletic organization. Work with minor league or local teams as a way to enter the field and gain experience. Be willing to work in any capacity to get started.

Sporting Goods

Areas

Store Management

Brand/Product Representation

Product Development

Product Distribution

Marketing

Employers

Sporting goods manufacturers

Sporting goods stores

Exercise equipment manufacturers

Strategies

Major in business, marketing, sport management, or related field. Obtain a part-time job or internship in the area of wholesaling or retailing. Develop excellent communication skills. Build relationships with coaches, athletic directors, and college equipment/uniform representatives. Volunteer as a team equipment manager.

Physical Education

Areas

Employers

Public and private schools, K-12

Colleges and universities

Strategies

Obtain a degree in education, physical education, or other sport related field in addition to appropriate state teacher licensure. Earn dual certification for increased job opportunities. Become familiar with a variety of physical cognitive and affective disabilities if interested in an adaptive physical education career. Supplement coursework with special education classes. Secure a part-time position with a youth recreation center, college athletic facility, or intramural athletic administration department. Develop competitive and instructive proficiency in a wide array of sports. Obtain a graduate degree to teach at the college level or to advance into administrative positions. Become a graduate teaching assistant for physical education courses.

Coaching

Areas

Professional Coaching

High School Coaching

College Coaching

Private Coaching

Employers

Professional sport teams

Colleges and universities

High schools and middle schools

Recreational organizations or leagues (e.g., YMCA)

Country clubs

Racket clubs

Golf and tennis resorts

Cruise Lines

City parks and recreation departments

Strategies

Consider majoring in exercise science, sport management, or physical education.Obtain teacher licensure for high school and middle school coaching opportunities. Gain extensive, advanced playing experience. Maintain current CPR and first aid certifications. Gain additional knowledge in areas of strength training, fitness, nutrition, and conditioning. Learn about and practice motivational techniques. Become familiar with legal and regulatory issues related to coaching (e.g., NCAA regulations). Volunteer to coach neighborhood, church, and community teams. Attend practices of teams at various levels to observe coaches' techniques. Serve as a referee or umpire. Seek a graduate assistant position in athletic administration, instruction, or coaching. Obtain an assistant and then head coaching position at the university level to increase possibility of progressing to the professional level.

Employers

Strategies

Be prepared to maintain full-time employment in addition to refereeing. Volunteer to umpire youth or Little League games. Obtain certification to officiate in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) games. Join sport associations and organizations to stay current on developments in the field and to make contacts. Attend classes, seminars, camps, and workshops sponsored by these organizations and associations. Attend an umpire training school or camp for professional opportunities. Gain Professional Football Referees Association licensure or other applicable credential. Obtain the required ten years of collegiate football refereeing experience before applying to The National Football League (NFL).

Sports Psychology

Areas

Teaching

Research

Consultation

Performance Enhancement

Employers

Colleges and universities

Olympic training centers

Competitive youth sport centers

Recreation organizations and leagues

Professional sport teams

Professional and competitive athletes

Hospitals

Strategies

Major in psychology, physical education, exercise science or other physical activity related field. Obtain a doctoral degree in sport psychology, sport sociology, or clinical/counseling psychology and complete postdoctoral training if you desire to work with professional sport teams or athletes. Develop good relationships with coaches and other athletic department personnel. Express a willingness to learn from coaches and athletes. Gain experience in a variety of different sports. Assist faculty with research. Develop strong written and oral communication skills. Consider coaching youth teams. Show genuine care when working with athletes. Join professional associations such as the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 47 (Sport and Exercise Psychology) or the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology (AAASP).

Exercise and Health Psychology

Areas

Teaching

Research

Health Promotion

Primary Care

Inpatient Medical

Specialized Health Care

Employers

Colleges and universities

Hospitals

Health clubs and fitness centers

Olympic training centers

Rehabilitation clinics

Public health agencies

Strategies

Major in one of the social sciences and supplement coursework with hard science classes. Acquire training in the areas of research, grant writing, and statistics. Volunteer in a hospital or fitness center. Develop strong written and oral communication skills. Learn to work well in a team environment. Earn a graduate degree in clinical, counseling, social, or experimental psychology for health psychology opportunities. Earn a graduate degree in sport psychology, with an exercise emphasis, for a career in exercise psychology. Pursue a postdoctoral internship or fellowship for advanced career opportunities.

General Information

Be willing to work with sport teams in any capacity, realizing that most people start in low-level positions. Careers in sport and athletics are extremely competitive. Get as much experience as possible while in school.

Join professional associations. Read their publications and attend their meetings, seminars, and conventions to learn more about the field, as well as to make important contacts.

Look for jobs in the minor leagues as a way to enter the sport industry.

Earn a graduate or professional degree for increased opportunities.

Maintain excellent personal fitness and athletic proficiency.

Learn to relate well to a variety of people from various backgrounds.

Consider entering the field of athletics through skills and experience in another area such as accounting, sales, or information systems.

Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (2005) UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA /ADEA Employer

** Related majors available or major offered under a different name at Niagara.